Adjustable outboard motor mounting



Oct. 8, 1963 R. 1.. DONALDSON 3,106,375

ADJUSTABLE OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTING Filed Feb. 20, 1962 INVENTOR.

7f BY (it a ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent C) ADJUSTABLE OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTING Richard L. Donaldson, 139 Storeywobd, San Antonio 13, Tex. Filed Feb-20, 1962, Ser- No. 174,474 3 Claims. (Cl. 2484) This invention relates to an adjustable outboard motor mounting and has as its primary object the provision of a device which may be attached to the transom of a'boat, and to which an outboard motor may be attached, the arrangement being such that the motor may be raised or lowered for maximum power or maximum speed inaccordance with the wishes of the operator.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is readily adapted for use with any standard outboard motor, and which may be applied to any type of boat having a stern transom.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character 'wherein the adjustment may be simply and expeditiously effected by merely rotating a pair of oppositely disposed bolts to vary the height of the motor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will effectively strengthen the stern transom while serving its primary function.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of device embodying the instant invention shown as applied to the stern transom of a boat, an outboard motor in association therewith being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end elevational view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2, the position of the outboard motor mounting bracket being indicated in dotted lines.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention is generally indicated at and includes a rear mounting plate which comprises a horizontal flange 11 which fits closely on the top of the transom T at the stern of an outboard motor boat B and a vertical plate 12. Plate 12 comprises in effect a template and is provided, as best shown in FIG. 3, with a seriesof spaced vertical slots 14, through'selected pairs of which bolts 15 are inserted from the rear for attachment to the mounting bracket A'of a particular outboard motor M. The spacing of the slots is so designed as to accommod'ate virtually any standard modern outboardmotor mounting bracket. A safety bolt 15A extends through a suitable opening in the transom T, and secures the rear mounting plate and the motor lower unit bracket to-the transom, utilizing the usual safety holes now manufactured into most motor rear lower unit brackets on outboard motors.

A front mounting plate, generally indicated at 16, is also provided and includes a horizontal flange 17 and a vertical flange 18 which is adapted to overlie the front of the transom T. Vertical flange 18 is engaged by the mounting bolts 20 of one side 21 of the mounting brackets 3 ,106,375 Patented Oct. 8, 1963 ice ' apertures at opposite ends of horizontal flange 17 and have steel bolts 26 extended therethr-ough. The bolts are provided with heads 27 to permit the accommodation of a suitable tool. The lower end of the bolts terminates in plates 13 which seat against the flange 11.

The arrangement is obviously such that by rotating the heads 27 the bolts 26 will rotate in the nuts 25' and space the flange 17 upwardly or downwardly relative to the flange 11, and consequently raise or lower the height of the mounting brackets 21 and their associated motor M. The bolts 15 move up or down in rear mounting plates in slots 14 to acommodate the varying height of the motor.

It is to be understood that in place of the solid vertical flanges 12 and 18 of the rearand front mounting plates, respectively, as shown on the drawings, each vertical flange may comprise a pair of spaced, downwardly depending fingers (not shown) sufficient in width to accommodate the mounting brackets A of the outboard motor M. This would obviously decrease the amount of material necessary and reduce the cost of the device. The spaced fingers of the rear mounting plate would then be provided with vertical slots such as the slots 14 shown in FIGURE 3 for the reception of the bolts 15.

It will thus be seen that the comparative elevation of the motor, and its associated propeller may be varied vertically in order to provide maximum power or maximum speed as desired in accordance with the depth at which the propeller operates.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility.

As many embodiments may be made of the inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a mounting assembly for outboard motors, a rear mounting plate comprising a horizontal flange adapted to res-t on the top of a boat transom and a vertical flange adapted to be engaged by one side of the clamping bracket of the motor and a front plate including a horizontal flange having apertures therein overlying said first-mentioned horizontal flange and a vertical flange adapted to be engaged by the other side of the clamping bracket, fixed nuts surrounding said apertures, and bolts threaded through said nuts and having their ends abutting said first-mentioned flange.

2. In a mounting assembly for outboard motors, a rear mounting plate comprising a horizontal flange adapted to rest on the top of a boat transom and a vertical flange adapted to be engaged by one side of the clamping bracket 1 of the motor and a front plate including a horizontal flange having apertures therein overlying said first-menthrough said nuts and having their ends abutting said firstmentioned flange, said first-mentioned vertical flange having a plurality of longitudinal slots therein for the accommodation of bolts secured to said one side of said clamping bracket.

3. In a mounting assembly for outboard motors, a rear mounting plate comprising a horizontal flange adapted to rest on the top of a boat transom and a vertical flange adapted to be engaged by one side of the clamping bracket of the motor and a front plate including a horizontal flange having apertures therein overlying said first-mentioned horizontal flange and a vertical flange adapted to be engaged by the other side of the clamping bracket, fixed nuts surrounding said apertures, and bolts threaded through said nuts and having their ends abutting said firstmentioned flange, said vertical flanges each having spaced depending fingers thereon, the fingers on said first-mentioned vertical flange having longitudinal slots therein for the acornmodation of bolts secured to said one side of said clamping bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 265,843 Marquis Oct. 10, 1882 2,214,322 Bryant Sept. 10, 1940 2,713,842 Ploufi July 26, 1955 2,815,731 Curtis Dec. 10, 1957 3,025,028 Corbin Mar. 13, 1962 

1. IN A MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS, A REAR MOUNTING PLATE COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL FLANGE ADAPTED TO REST ON THE TOP OF A BOAT TRANSOM AND A VERTICAL FLANGE ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY ONE SIDE OF THE CLAMPING BRACKET OF THE MOTOR AND A FRONT PLATE INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL FLANGE HAVING APERTURES THEREIN OVERLYING SAID FIRST-MENTIONED HORIZONTAL FLANGE AND A VERTICAL FLANGE ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CLAMPING BRACKET, FIXED NUTS SURROUNDING SAID APERTURES, AND BOLTS THREADED THROUGH SAID NUTS AND HAVING THEIR ENDS ABUTTING SAID FIRST-MENTIONED FLANGE. 